Does Insurance Cover Breast Pumps? How to Get One ASAP

Order a free pump through Medicaid, Blue Cross, Aetna, & more

Co-authored by Yummy Mummy and Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: January 13, 2026 Fact Checked

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There is a lot to think of, pay for, and plan for when it comes to welcoming a newborn into the world. One thing you may want to take off your plate is a breast pump. Fortunately, there are numerous options to quickly get a free breast pump through your insurance coverage. You can follow the simple, fast, and easy steps below to guide yourself through this process—including an understanding of what your insurance might cover, what documentation you need to order a pump, and what type of breast pump may work best for you.

Ordering a Breast Pump Through Health Insurance

Get in touch with your insurance provider to ask them about the possibilities and process for getting a free breast pump through your coverage plan. Alternatively, order a free insurance pump through a service like Yummy Mummy, which will handle navigating insurance and medical providers for you. They’ll also guide you through the following steps to receive your pump:

Input your state of residence.
Enter your insurance details to find out what pumps are covered for you.
Choose the exact pump type and model you’d like to order.
Enter your name, shipping info, and your baby’s due date or birth date.
Wait for your free insurance breast pump to arrive!

1

Call your insurance provider for coverage and process details.

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Get informed about what your insurance provides before moving forward. According to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), all insurers are required to provide breastfeeding support, which may include the use of complementary breast pumps. However, because the ACA doesn’t provide specific instructions for what an insurer must provide, different health insurance plans may differ in what they cover. You might also have to navigate through some red tape, such as only being able to get your pump through certain vendors or having to get a breast pump prescription from an OB/GYN.^{[1]
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- When you get a hold of your insurance provider, ask them these questions:^{[2]
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  - Does my plan cover the cost of buying or renting a personal-use breast pump?
  - Are the costs covered without any cost-sharing?
  - Do I need a prescription from a doctor? If so, how and where should I send it?
  - What kinds of breast pumps are covered?
  - Where can I purchase the breast pump from?
- Once you have the answers you need, follow the steps from your insurer to get a breast pump—this will differ based on every provider and specific plan.
Alternatively, we highly recommend working with a service like Yummy Mummy. This company’s entire goal is to make it easy for new parents to get a breast pump through their insurance—instead of jumping through the hoops yourself, they’ll do it for you!

2

If needed, get a prescription from your doctor.

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Some insurers require a medical note to provide you with a free pump. If you’ve reached out to your insurance provider and they’ve informed you that you need a prescription, you’ll have to schedule a doctor’s appointment to get one. Depending on your insurance, you may have to make a case that you need one for medical reasons, such as you having supply issues, or your baby being a preemie or having other medical conditions that make it difficult for them to nurse. Your doctor will simply have to write a note or prescription with your diagnosis and a statement that you need an electric pump.^{[3]
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- The prescription should also specify the type of pump you need, e.g., “EO603, standard electric breast pump” for a standard personal use pump or “EO604, hospital-grade pump rental” for a hospital-grade pump.^{[4]
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- Once you have the prescription, submit it to your insurer per their instructions.

3

Find a breast pump supplier for an easier process.

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Working with a company that helps to supply breast pumps can simplify things. It’s no secret that navigating insurance claims and the medical process can be overwhelming and frustrating—especially for a new parent who’s just trying to get breast milk to their baby. That’s why certain programs and companies have formed to aid new and expectant parents through this process—often vastly simplifying the steps and making it easier for a mother or father to get the free breast pump they need. For example, you can fill out a simple form on the Yummy Mummy website, and their team will start working on getting your breast pump to you.
- Some government-funded options also exist, like the WIC (The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), which is run by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.^{[5]
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- Do I have to wait until my baby is born to order my free breast pump? Not usually, no. Most insurers and breast pump providers allow you to order your pump up to six months before your due date and up to six months after your baby is born.

4

Fill out your insurance details with the supplier.

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After you’ve researched and found a free breast pump supplier that you like, proceed through their process to order your pump. Usually, this begins with entering your state of residence and your insurance details. Of course, you’ll need to work with a company that accepts your insurance, so ideally, you’ll have found a company with numerous insurance options. Notable organizations like Yummy Mummy, for instance, can offer more than 200 insurance providers as part of their in-network options.

5

Choose your breast pump.

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You’ll want to choose the breast pump option that best suits your needs. Once you enter your insurance details, you should see a list of breast pump products that are free under your plan. Now, you’ll have to compare products and choose the breast pump that you want! The major categories of breast pumps are manual, electric, and hospital-grade devices—read the quick guide below, or check out this Breast Pump Comparison Guide from Yummy Mummy.^{[6]
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- Manual pumps require manual squeezing or lever action to express milk—while they can be more affordable and quieter than electric pumps, they can be tiring for frequent pumping.
- Electric pumps, on the other hand, use battery-operated or electric motors to express milk, which can make them more convenient and efficient. Similarly, hospital-grade pumps are electric machines that are extremely powerful and may be used by multiple people at once. They’re usually only available for rent.
- You can also choose between single or double pumps—single pumps can only be attached to one breast at a time, while double pumps can express milk from both breasts at once.
- Other options include the wearable pump and the portable pump. Wearable pumps are electric, and they can be worn inside the bra for hands-free pumping (however, they’re often less powerful than other electric pumps). Portable pumps, meanwhile, are battery-operated, lightweight, and easy to carry around.
- How many free breast pumps can you get through insurance? In most cases, you can only get one free pump per pregnancy through your health insurance provider.

6

Wait to receive your pump.

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Once you’ve placed your order, all you have to do is wait! Complete your order by filling out any further information required by the breast pump provider—e.g., your healthcare provider information and your baby’s due date or birth date. After you submit your request, the team at Yummy Mummy (or whatever service you’ve chosen to order through) will work with your insurance provider and doctor to get you your breast pump as quickly as possible. With some organizations, including Yummy Mummy, you don’t even need to supply your credit card information—they provide free shipping on all insurance breast pumps!
- In some cases, you may choose to contact your provider if you have any questions or if your breast pump is taking longer than expected to arrive.
- Otherwise, just spend your time reading up on Yummy Mummy’s extensive resources and support options for breastfeeding moms. For example, you can learn about common breastfeeding concerns, breast pump cleaning steps, or how to use your specific breast pump model.